“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.”
— Ernest Hemingway
There was a season in my life when everything seemed to fall apart all at once. Work, family, friendships — even my own sense of self — crumbled under the pressure of expectations and unforeseen events. I remember sitting alone in my small room, staring blankly at the ceiling, wondering how something that once felt so strong and secure could suddenly feel so fragile.
Ernest Hemingway’s quote hits home for me, even years after that painful chapter. “The world breaks everyone…” It’s a truth many of us learn the hard way. We’re all susceptible to heartbreak, disappointment, failure, and loss. No matter how careful we are or how much we plan, life throws us curveballs that hit hard — sometimes right where it hurts the most.
But the second part of that quote is what gives me hope: “…and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.” That’s what I’ve come to realize. The places where I once cracked and fell apart are now the very areas where I’ve become stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.
Take my experience with a project at work that once went horribly wrong — a project I had poured months into, only to have it scrapped at the last moment due to miscommunication and budget constraints. At the time, I took it personally. I felt like a failure. But now, I look back and see how that failure pushed me to improve my communication, anticipate risks better, and mentor others to avoid the same mistakes. What once felt like brokenness became the foundation of a stronger version of myself.
So if you’re in a season where you feel broken — remember, that’s not where your story ends. Like a bone that heals stronger after a fracture, your pain can become your power. What matters is how you rise, rebuild, and believe in your ability to become stronger in the very places life once hurt you.
Let the cracks remind you that you survived. And better yet — you’re becoming.